Support element for a reinforcing rod

ABSTRACT

A support and spacer element for use with one or more reinforcing rods. The element includes a hollow section having an upper rim and a lower rim. The upper rim has one or more pairs of recesses oppositely disposed therein for receiving and supporting respective reinforcing rods. The element also includes one or more pairs of oppositely disposed flanges spaced apart from the upper rim and outwardly extending from the hollow section for securing the reinforcing rods to the hollow section.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a construction component, in particular to a support element for reinforcing rods.

BACKGROUND

A significant component of the construction of a building is the laying of concrete formwork for a foundation or floor. To provide strength and rigidity to the formwork, a grid formed from steel reinforcing rods is first constructed. It is generally necessary to space and support the reinforcing rods at a correct distance from the formwork and in a correct relative position thereto.

It is common for a concrete spacer block of cubic or cuboid dimensions to be used to support and space the reinforcing rods from the formwork. Typically, a plurality of concrete spacer blocks are spaced apart from one another at about 100 cm intervals, and the reinforcing rods are tied to the concrete spacer blocks by wiring them together. This is time consuming and does not always securely fasten the reinforcing rods to the spacer blocks. The concrete spacer block may optionally overlay a steel base plate where the surface on which it lies remains uncompacted.

The concrete spacer blocks have only limited application for construction of grids of reinforcing rods formed on horizontal surfaces. Therefor, it is very difficult to secure the concrete spacer blocks (and the steel base plates) to a vertical surface and so provide a grid of reinforcing rods for the purpose of constructing a wall.

Further, when wet concrete is poured into the formwork and around the grid of reinforcing rods, the concrete spacer blocks may not be securely bonded to the surrounding concrete.

The present invention seeks to overcome at least some of the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY

In its broadest aspect, the invention provides a support and spacer element for use with one or more reinforcing rods.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention there is provided a support and spacer element for use with one or more reinforcing rods, said element comprising:

a hollow section having an upper rim and a lower rim, the upper rim having one or more pairs of recesses oppositely disposed therein for receiving and supporting respective reinforcing rods; and

one or more pairs of oppositely disposed flanges spaced apart from the upper rim and outwardly extending from said hollow section for securing said reinforcing rods to said hollow section.

In one form of the invention, the flanges may comprise T-shaped flanges. In one embodiment, the flanges are substantially equidistantly spaced between the upper rim and the lower rim of the hollow section.

In another embodiment of the invention, the hollow section is provided with one or more pairs of oppositely disposed recesses in the lower rim of the hollow section.

In one embodiment, the hollow section comprises a first pair of opposing side walls and a second pair of opposing side walls. The first and second pair of opposing side walls may be orthogonally disposed with respect to one another. in other words, a cross-sectional shape of the hollow section may be quadrangular.

In one embodiment, the first pair of opposing side walls is provided with a first pair of oppositely disposed recesses in the upper rim thereof and the second pair of opposing side walls is provided with a second pair of oppositely disposed recesses in the upper rim thereof. In some embodiments, the first and second pair of recesses have the same depth. In other embodiments, the first and second pair of recesses have different depths.

In one embodiment, the hollow section has a web member to interconnect the first pair of opposing side walls or the second pair of opposing side walls. In general, the web member is equidistantly spaced between the other of the first or the second pair of opposing side walls. The web member is preferably disposed in parallel alignment with the other of the first or the second pair of opposing side walls.

An upper rim of the web member may be provided with a recess. preferably, the recess is at least a similar depth to the pair of recesses in the opposing walls with which the web member is disposed in parallel alignment. Alternatively, an upper rim of the web member may be spaced at or below a trough of the recesses in the opposing walls with which the web member is disposed in parallel alignment.

In one embodiment of the invention, the support and spacer element further comprises a base plate for supporting the hollow section.

In one form of the invention, the base plate may be integrally formed with the lower rim of the hollow section.

In an alternative form of the invention, the base plate may be coupled to the hollow section with a coupling means. The coupling means may comprise a recess provided on an upper surface of the base plate for receiving the lower rim of the hollow section, preferably in a friction fit therebetween. The recess may comprise a space defined by an upstanding rebate corresponding to at least one or more portions of the lower rim of the hollow section.

The coupling means may further comprise one or more pairs of interfitting flanges extending from a plate member of the base plate, the interfitting flanges being adapted to engage respective flanges extending from the hollow section, preferably in a snapfit therebetween. In one form of the invention the one or more pairs of interfitting flanges may be hingedly connected to the plate member base of the base plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a support element according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a base plate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention configured to couple with the support element of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show perspective views of a base plate in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention configured to couple with the support element of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, a support and spacer element 10 for use with one or more reinforcing rods is shown. The element 10 includes a hollow section 12 having an upper rim 14 and a lower rim 16. In use, the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12 abuts a surface on which the support and spacer element 10 is placed, and the upper rim 14 supports the reinforcing rod. Accordingly, an effective distance between the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12 and the upper rim 14 may determine the spacing of the reinforcing rod from said surface.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the hollow section 12 has a first pair of opposing side walls 18 a, 18 b and a second pair of opposing side walls 201, 20 b. The first and second pair of opposing side walls 18 a, 18 b, 20 a, 20 b are at right angles with respect to one another such that a cross-sectional shape of the hollow section 12 is quadrangular.

The first pair of opposing side walls 18 a, 18 b is provided with a matched pair of curved recesses 22 a, 22 b in the upper rim 14 of the hollow section 12. The term “matched pair” as used herein refers to a pair of recesses which have a substantially identical shape, depth, width, and optionally curvature.

The second pair of opposing side walls 20 a, 20 b is also provided with a matched pair of recesses 24 a, 24 b in the upper rim 14 of the hollow section 12. The recesses 24 a, 24 b comprise an upper inwardly tapered section defined by opposing sloping surfaces 26 a, 26 b and a lower generally semicircular section defined by a curved surface 28 a, 28 b.

The purpose of the respective matched pairs of recesses 22 a, 24 b, 24 a, 24 b is to receive and support respective reinforcing rods. Although the shapes of the recesses 24 a, 24 b, 22 a, 22 b in the foregoing description are specifically described, it will be appreciated that the recesses may take any suitable shape, for example a rectangular shape or a V-shape.

The matched pair of recesses 24 a, 24 b in the second pair of opposing side walls 20 a, 20 b extends from the upper rim 14 to a greater depth than the matched pair of recesses 22 a, 22 b in the hollow section 12 together with the length of the hollow section 12 determines the spacing of the reinforcing rod supported in said pair of recesses from the surface on which the element 10 is placed. Thus, in this particular embodiment of the invention it is possible for a single support and spacer element 10 to support reinforcing rods at different spacings from the surface on which the support and spacer element 10 is placed.

In this particular embodiment of the invention it is also possible for a single support and spacer element 10 to support two orthogonally disposed reinforcing rods, where a first of the rods is supported by the second matched pair of recesses 24 a, 24 b at a lower depth than the second of the rods which is support at right angles to the first of the rods by the first matched pair of recesses 22 a, 22.

It will be appreciated that the first and second matched pairs of recesses 22 a, 22 b, 24 a, 24 b may be of substantially similar depth in which case it is likely that only one pair of matched recesses 22 a, 22 b or 24 a, 24 b may be used to support a single reinforcing rod.

Additionally, in this particular embodiment of the invention, the first pair of opposing side walls 18 a, 18 b is provided with a matched pair of curved recesses 26 a, 26 b in the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12. The second pair of opposing side walls 20 a, 20 b is also provided with a matched pair of curved recesses 28 a, 28 b in the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12. Curved recesses 28 a, 28 b are of greater depth than curved recesses 26 a, 26 b. The recesses 26 a, 26 b, 28 a, 28 b in the lower rim 16 may be of different depths in the hollow section 12 relative to the recesses 22 a, 22 b, 24 a, 24 b so that the hollow section 12 could be inverted in use to provide additional versatility in the spacing provided by the element 10 from the surface on which the lower rim (or optionally, the upper rim 14) can be mounted.

The first pair of opposing side walls 18 a, 18 b is provided with a pair of outwardly extending flanges 30 a, 30 b and the second pair of opposing side walls 20 a, 20 b is also provided with a pair of outwardly extending flanges 32 a, 32 b. In this particular embodiment, the flanges 30 a, 30 b, 32 a, 32 b are T-shaped and are substantially equidistantly spaced between the upper rim 14 and the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12.

The hollow section 12 also includes a first web member 34 which interconnects the first pair of opposing side walls 18 a, 18 b and a second web member 36 which interconnects the second pair of opposing side walls 20 a, 20 b. The first web member 34 is substantially equidistantly spaced between the second pair of opposing side walls 20 a, 20 b and the second web member 36 is substantially equidistantly spaced between the second pair of opposing side walls 20 a, 20 b and the second web member 36 is substantially equidistantly spaced between the first pair of opposing side walls 18 a, 18 b.

An upper rim 38 of the first web member 34 is provided with a curved recess 40 of similar depth to the second matched pairs of recesses 24 a, 24 b. The upper rim 38 of the first web member 34 is also spaced at or below a trough 42 of the first matched pair of recesses 22 a, 22 b.

An upper rim 44 of the second web member 36 is spaced at or below a trough 46 of the second matched pair of recesses 24 a, 24 b.

In this way, the upper rims 38, 44 of neither the first nor the second web members 34, 36 protrude above the troughs 42, 46 of the first or second matched pairs of recesses 22, 22 b, 24 a, 24 b and thereby interfere with the ability of the first or second matched pairs of recesses 22 a, 22 b, 24 a, 24 b to receive and support respective reinforcing rods.

The support and spacer element 10 may also include a base plate 48 for supporting the hollow section 12. The base plate 48 may be integrally formed with a lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12.

Alternatively, the base plate 48 may be a discrete element as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which may be coupled with the hollow section 12. In these embodiments, where like numerals refer to like parts, the base plate 48 includes a plate member 50 with a coupling means 52 for coupling with the hollow section 12.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coupling means 52 includes a quadrangular-shaped recess 54 provided on an upper surface 56 of the plate member 50 for receiving the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12. The coupling means 52 may also include a pair of opposing interfitting flanges 58.

the recess 54 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a space defined by a rebate 60. The rebate 60 may define the space along its entire perimeter or may define the space intermittently. For example, the rebate 60 shown in FIG. 2 comprises four right-angled sections 62 a, 62 b, 62 c, 62 d arranged to define the quadrangular-shaped recess 54.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, the recess 54 may comprise a suitably shaped depression in the upper surface 56 of the plate member.

In general, the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12 is received in a friction fit in the recess 54.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pair of opposing interfitting flanges 58 extend outwardly from the plate member 50.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the pair of opposing interfitting flanges 58 are hingedly connected at respective hinges 64 to the plate member 50.

The hinged interfitting flanges 58 comprise opposing cut out portions 66 of the plate member 50.

The hinged interfitting flanges 58 are moveable between a closed position (FIG. 3 a) wherein the hinged interfitting flanges 58 are in parallel alignment with the plate member 50 and an open position wherein the hinged interfitting flanges extending at an angle from the plate member 50. In general the angle will be about 90° but may be greater than 90° in some embodiments. FIG. 3 b shows the hinged interfitting flanges 58 at a partially open position.

In the closed position, the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12 may be received in the recess 64. Alternatively, in the open position the lower rim 16 of the hollow section 12 may be received in the recess 64 and the interfitting flanges may engage respective opposing flanges 30 a, 30 b, or 32 a, 32 b.

In another embodiment, the pair of opposing interfitting flanges 58 is adapted in use to engage respective opposing flanges 30 a, 30 b or 32 a, 32 b on the hollow section 12 in a snapfit.

Regardless of whether the hollow section 12 and the base plate 48 are formed as a single integral support and spacer element 10 or as discrete elements which are coupled together to form the support and spacer element, the materials of construction for the support and spacer element 10 described can be any suitable materials typically used for injection moulded fixtures, and that can be shaped, formed and fitted in the manner so described. Suitable materials include a plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated PVCs, high density polypropylene (HDPE), cross0linked polyethylenes such as PEX-a and PEX-b, plastics based on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS), and so on.

In use, a plurality of support and spacer elements 10 may be arranged in a grid pattern, at distances from one another of approximately one metre, on a surface for which formwork is being constructed. A plurality of reinforcing rods may be arranged in a corresponding grid pattern where a first length of reinforcing rod may be received and supported on the upper rim 14 of one of the first or second matched pairs of recesses 22 a, 22 b, 24 a, 24 b of the hollow section 12. Where it is required to overlay a second length of reinforcing rod at right angles to the first length of reinforcing rod, the second length of reinforcing rod maybe received in the other of the first or second matched pairs of recesses 22 a, 22 b, 24 a, 24 b in the hollow section 12.

The reinforcing rods may be secured to the hollow section 12 by wrapping wire or similar attachment means around the reinforcing rod and the flanges 30 a, 30 b, 32 a, 32 b on the either side of the hollow section 12, wherein the flanges 30 a, 30 b, 32 a, 32 b behave as anchor points for such attachments means. It will be appreciated that one pair of the flanges 30 a, 30 b, 32 a, 32 b may be used to engage with the interfitting flanges 58 of the mounting means 52 of the base plate 48, in which case the other of the pair of flanges 30 a, 30 b, 32 a, 32 b may be used as anchor points for wiring the reinforcing rods thereto.

When such a grid is complete, concrete may be poured into the formwork. Concrete may flow into and fill the hollow section 12 of the support and spacer element 10, thereby affording improved incorporation of the support and spacer element 10 therein in comparison with prior art concrete blocks.

Additionally, while the grid may be constructed as described above in a horizontal arrangement, once formed the grid of support and spacer elements 10 and reinforcing rods tied thereto may then be vertically oriented.

Alternatively, the base plate 48 of the support and spacer element 10 may be fastened to a substantially vertical or inclined surface, and the grid may be constructed as described in the foregoing description.

In the description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the words “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features, but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, although prior art use and publications may be referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that any of these form a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Numerous variations and modifications will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the relevant art, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

For example, the hollow section 12 may have different cross-sectional shapes, such as a polygonal or cylindrical shape. Further, where the hollow section 12 is provided with a cylindrical cross-section, side walls of said hollow section 12 may be substantially vertical, or alternatively, tapered inwardly towards the upper rim of said hollow section 12 such that the hollow section 12 takes on a frusto-conical form.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A support and spacer element for use with one or more reinforcing rods, said element comprising: a hollow section having an upper rim and a lower rim, the upper rim having one or more pairs of recesses oppositely disposed therein for receiving and supporting respective reinforcing rods; and, one or more pairs of oppositely disposed flanges spaced apart from the upper rim and outwardly extending from said hollow section for securing said reinforcing rods to said hollow section.
 2. The support and spacer element according to claim 1, wherein the flanges are substantially equidistantly spaced between the upper rim and the lower rim of the hollow section.
 3. The support and spacer element according to claim 1, wherein the flanges comprise T-shaped flanges.
 4. The support and spacer element according to claim 1, wherein the hollow section is provided with one or more pairs of oppositely disposed recesses in the lower rim of the hollow section.
 5. The support and spacer element according to claim 1, wherein the hollow section comprises a first pair of opposing side walls and a second pair of opposing side walls.
 6. The support and spacer element according to claim 5, wherein the first and second pair of opposing side walls are orthogonally disposed with respect to one another.
 7. The support and spacer element according to claim 5, wherein the first pair of opposing side walls is provided with a first pair of oppositely disposed recesses in the upper rim thereof and the second pair of opposing side walls is provided with a second pair of oppositely disposed recesses in the upper rim thereof.
 8. The support and spacer element according to claim 7, wherein the first and second pair of recesses have the same depth.
 9. The support and spacer element according to claim 7, wherein the first and second pair of recesses have different depths.
 10. The support and spacer element according to claim 5, wherein the hollow section comprises a web member to interconnect the first pair of opposing side walls or the second pair of opposing side walls.
 11. The support and spacer element according to claim 10, wherein the web member is equidistantly spaced between the other of the first or the second pairs of opposing side walls.
 12. The support and spacer element according to claim 10, wherein the web member is disposed in parallel alignment with the other of the first or the second pair of opposing side walls.
 13. The support and spacer element according to claim 10, wherein an upper rim of the web member is provided with a recess.
 14. The support and spacer element according to claim 13, wherein the recess is at least a similar depth to the pair of recesses in the opposing walls with which the web member is disposed in parallel alignment.
 15. The support and spacer element according to claim 10, wherein an upper rim of the web member is spaced at or below a trough of the recesses in the opposing walls with which the web member is disposed in parallel alignment.
 16. The support and spacer element according to claim 1 further comprising a base plate for supporting the hollow section.
 17. The support and spacer element according to claim 16, wherein the base plate is integrally formed with the lower rim of the hollow section.
 18. The support and spacer element according to claim 16, wherein the base plate is coupled to the hollow section with a coupling means.
 19. The support and spacer element according to claim 18, wherein the coupling means comprises a recess provided on an upper surface of the base plate for receiving the lower rim of the hollow section.
 20. The support and spacer element according to claim 19, wherein the recess comprises a space defined by a rebate corresponding to at least one or more portions of the lower rim of the hollow section.
 21. The support and spacer element according to claim 19, wherein the coupling means further comprises at least two interfitting flanges extending from a plate member of the base plate adapted to engage respective flanges on the hollow section.
 22. The support and spacer element according to claim 21, wherein the at least two interfitting flanges are hingedly connected to the plate member base portion of the base plate. 